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Healthy Aidan Hutchinson ready to take another step forward with Lions in 2025: 'I'm exactly where I need to be'

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sniffed a double-digit sack total as a rookie. Then he made his first Pro Bowl during his sophomore season. Last year, he was putting together an NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign before suffering a broken tibia and fibula in Week 6.

"I think if you think of my entire potential, there's still more to go," the 2022 No. 2 overall pick told CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson in an interview this week.

"There's still things to learn. I always believe that about myself. People like to put that mark on me, coming out of the draft with being a high-floor, low-ceiling [prospect]. But I think I proved that there's a lot more to come every single year."

At the time of his season-ending injury last fall, Hutchinson was leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks. He had piled up a head-turning 45 pressures, which, according to Pro Football Focus, were eight shy of the 53 he posted in his first 17 games with the Lions during the 2022 season.

After completing an extensive recovery process, Hutchinson told reporters in late May that he was "fully cleared."

Hutchinson is eager for training camp, and to help the Lions win their first-ever Super Bowl after the team followed up its best regular season to date with a disappointing divisional-round exit from the playoffs.

"I'm exactly where I need to be," Hutchinson said, via CBS Sports. "Every year I've been able to improve on my own physical attributes, along with the mental ones. So I feel like every year I take a step. And despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I'm in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be going into Year Four."

Hutchinson was one of several Lions defensive players sidelined last season. Detroit was so decimated on that side of the ball that then-defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn had to get creative with personnel and his scheme, and eventually the Lions' best bet was simply outscoring the opposition.

Although Detroit finished the regular season seventh in points per game allowed (20.1), the Lions gave up 31 or more points in three of their final five regular-season games. Then they gave up 45 points to the Washington Commanders in that fateful divisional-round game.

The offseason has afforded the Lions an opportunity to reset, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where Hutchinson will be joined by first-round defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.

That said, Glenn is now the head coach of the New York Jets. The Lions' offensive coordinator and play-designing wizard, Ben Johnson, got a head coaching job as well and is leading the Chicago Bears this season.

"AG and Ben, they did a great job, and they were really, really amazing for us these past few years," Hutchinson said, via CBS Sports. "But, at the end of the day, the majority of our team is still intact for all the cornerstone pieces.

"And, ultimately, that's the most important part. As long as you're keeping your key pieces on both sides of the ball, that's really all that matters."

The Lions are poised to contend for their third straight division title in an NFC North that was one of the best divisions in NFL history last season.

Hutchinson will be the focal point of the Lions' defense in 2025. The team picked up his fifth-year option back in April, so he’s currently signed through the 2026 NFL season.

He's come a long way since his rookie year, growing through experience and adversity.

"It wasn't very easy a lot of the times," Hutchinson said, via CBS Sports. "You go through this maturity and this evolution throughout your career. ... I think in these first few years, when there's a big play that needs to be made, when the clock is ticking and somebody needs to make a play, I feel like now more than ever I embrace that, whereas I didn't quite embrace it as much as I do now [during] my rookie year. I didn't really understand. It's hard. You're a first rounder. People kind of expect the world out of you, and you kind of have to grow into that role of being 'the guy.'"

Hutchinson is healthy and believes he's on track to continue his NFL ascent in 2025.